Earned Media
New Orleans seeks sustainability as it rebuilds from hurricane once again
Features Steve Cochran, EDF/MRD:
"To the extent to which we notice this is an American issue," Cochran said, "the extent to which America begins to deal with climate and with those related disparities, is the degree to which a place like New Orleans can survive appropriately."
In response, solutions such as the Coastal Master Plan have come to the forefront. Initiated in 2005 with statewide support, the Coastal Master Plan provides a long-term blueprint for coastal protection, restoration, and flood risk reduction projects across Louisiana's coast.
It includes diverse strategies like structural risk reductions, sediment diversions, and ridge restoration to address the threat of massive land loss. Cochran, who also serves as director of Restore the Mississippi River Delta, emphasizes the importance of using the natural ecosystem for protection.
"A big aspect of the plan is rebuilding those multiple lines of defense, putting back in systems that can not only be built but can also be sustained," he said.
The main goal of these projects is to mitigate the risks of a changing climate. Experts project these efforts can reduce the destructive effects of storm surges, revitalize essential ecosystems, and recover some of the land that have been lost.
"Under our very best circumstances, with all the resources that we might aspire to, we're still going to lose some additional land across the coast," Cochran said, "but it won't be anything of what it would be if we weren't taking action."
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The Federal Government Sells Flood-Prone Homes To Often Unsuspecting Buyers, NPR Finds
Louisiana, Florida and New Jersey stand out as hot spots. More than one-fifth of homes sold by HUD in Louisiana were in flood plains. In Florida, it was about 12% of homes sold by HUD, and in New Jersey, 7%. In comparison, Zillow's records show that 0.1% or less of all homes sold in these states are in flood zones.